Medecins Sans Frontieres Belgium
Mission: "To offer assistance to populations in distress, to victims of natural or man-made disasters and to victims of armed conflict without discrimination and irrespective of race, religion, creed or political affiliation."
In China since: 1989
Annual China budget: $1,000,000
Number of staff: 25 national and 8 expatriate
Mainland China contact:
Luc Van Leemput，Head of Mission
(陆克, 首席代表)
Helen Zhao, Assistant Head of Mission
赵艳平，首席代表助理
Apt 2-3-43, Dongsanjie Diplomatic Compound, Sanlitun
Beijing 100600
Tel: +86 (0)10 6532 2607, 08 & 16
Fax: +86 (0)10 6532 2610
北京三里屯东三街外交公寓2-3-43房间，100600
International Contact:
Meinie NICOLAI
Director of Operations
Duprestreet 94
Brussels B-1090
Belgium
Tel: +32 2 474 7474
Fax: +32 2 474 7574
Activities in Other Countries:
Over 80 countries worldwide (including other MSF sections)
For a general introduction to MSF’s origins, ethos and way of working, see the entry for MSF France.
Established in 1980, this was the second national section of MSF to become operational (after MSF France, in 1971), and it was the first to start working on the Chinese mainland.
During the 1990s, the MSF Belgium worked in the Tibet Autonomous Region on a project to research and prevent Kashin Beck’s Disease (also known as ‘Big Bone Disease’), an illness that affects Tibetan communities. The organisation also carried out water and sanitation and primary health care programmes in Tibet, and later extended water supply, sanitation and community hygiene programmes to Guangxi and western Xinjiang.
In addition, MSF has over the years delivered medical supplies and assistance during numerous natural disasters and health emergencies. In 2003, it provided training for medical and auxiliary staff in two SARS hospitals in Zhangjiakou, Hebei, along with logistical support, medical back-up for severe cases and supplies of personal protective equipment.
At present, MSF Belgium has been concentrating its efforts on responding to the needs of people with HIV/AIDS and their families. A pilot project in Hubei’s Xiangfan Prefecture is providing comprehensive care to HIV positive people in the prefecture, including supplying anti-retroviral drugs and treating opportunistic infections. The aim is to establish a replicable model of treatment. In addition to medical care, the project includes ‘information, education and communication’ components that try to raise awareness and reduce stigma against people with the HIV virus, and to provide emotional and psychological support to patients and their relatives.
In 2003 MSF Belgium’s total income was EUR 103.7 million. Of this, around 18% was donated by the Belgian public, 33% came from MSF fundraising operations in other countries, 6% was provided in grants by other, operational MSF sections, and 31% was provided by ‘institutional donors’, including the governments of Belgium and other countries, and other multilateral organisations.
Links
http://www.msf.org
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